Wednesday, December 24: “Do You Hear What I Hear?” by Whitney Houston
In any Whitney Houston ballad, it’s easy to get lost in the beauty, the power, and the clarity of Houston’s voice—and “Do You Hear What I Hear?” is no exception.
But beyond Houston’s stunning musical performance is a call-and-answer Christmas classic in three verses, two of which ask a question and a third that issues a decree.
A lamb asks a shepherd boy, “Do you hear what I hear?” It’s the sound of the natural world, beckoning us to sense the narrative God has put into place by sending Jesus, His son, as His gift. It’s a narrative that’s been going since the beginning of Genesis, and at Christmas, it is about to reach its turning point. The story is a song, and it’s being sung with a voice “as big as the sea.”
The shepherd boy, in turn, asks the mighty king, “Do you know what I know?” This boy has, in theory, known hunger, fear, and discomfort—things a king has not experienced. To answer his own question, this boy advises the king of a child shivering in the cold and declares, “We should bring him silver and gold!”
The king’s response to the shepherd’s report is generosity. As a leader, he understands the shivering child to be his responsibility, but also the product of a fallen world. He is a good king, and he receives this news graciously, even from the humble shepherd. He commands his people everywhere, “Pray for peace! The child will bring us goodness and light!”
As Advent closes this year on Christmas Eve, we’re primed for the gifts we will give and receive in the days ahead. We’ve spent weeks getting ready for a celebration that will be over all too soon. But even as Advent comes to a close, we can pray for lasting gifts—Peace, Hope and Joy, delivered through God’s love.
We’ve been honored to spend the last 25 days of Advent with you and your family! From the Culture Translator Team and all of us at Axis: Have a Merry Christmas!
Conversation starter:
“Have you learned anything this year or has anything happened in our family that is making Christmas feel different?”
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